Sarees

The Timeless Elegance of Sarees

Woven into the heart of the Indian heritage, wearing sarees have been a practice from thousands of years. They stand out as a symbol of elegance, versatility and a plethora of beautiful traditions. Its far beyond a mere piece of clothing, rather it embraces and showcases the diversity, culture, history and artistry that has been passed from generations to the world. Each handmade saree tells a story of its own and its maker.

Sarees in India

“Diversity” and “Bharat” are almost synonymous to each other. In a diverse country like ours where everything changes every few kilometers and so does the kind of handloom and artform is very unique to each state. Handloom products from each state reflect its culture and unique craftsmanship. The genuine and authentic ones are truly masterpieces.

When it comes to saree, each state has its unique weave and also a unique style of draping the saree. The designs and techniques are inspired by architecture, nature, history, local traditions and so on.

In fact today, the saree is more than just a tradition; it has become a modern-day versatile fashion statement. It can be worn at weddings, festivals, concerts, office meetings, and casual outings. There are various modern forms and fusion styles that make it contemporary and appealing to the younger generation.

All around the world, sarees are synonymous with elegance and are a common feature in international fashion shows promoting Indian culture. Styled traditionally or done differently, the timeless artistry and modern relevance of sarees continue to have significance across all age groups.

What Makes Handmade Sarees So Special?

It’s the artisans and craftsmen. Masterpieces from age-old techniques that are passed on from generations after generations through family-run small workshops and looms create these masterpieces. These techniques could be a form of handloom weaving to the finest embroidery or a heritage block print and every bit in-between testify to the artistic excellence inherent in the making of a saree. 

Sarees Fall Under Various Categories Basis The Artform

Heritage Weaves: Each weave is a time taking process – right from setting up the loom, to preparing the fibre which are usually natural ones, dyeing of yarns and then the process of weaving itself which involves complex and intricate designs. Most of these designs are inspired by their local culture, monuments and history. Some handloom sarees might take a few days to weeks, while more intricate and detailed ones could take several weeks or even months to complete. Each weave has its own story that could be several centuries old. These include the finest woven sarees such as Banarasi, Baluchari, Chanderi, Sambhalpuri, Jamdani, Kosas, Maheshwari and so on.The Raw silks and Tussars from Bhagalpur along with handwoven linens add the right amount of simplicity to the elegance.They are lovely for weddings, festivals, or daily elegance.

Heritage Handblocks: Bagh, Bagru, Ajrakh and Dabu are the Handblock Sarees that is made by our skilled artisans since centuries now. The wooden hand blocks are so unique to a place or family that looking at the design one can identify the lineage of the block because that unique design signature has been passed down from generations within a family. The block printing technique is so elaborate and labour intensive that again makes each piece a masterpiece. The colours used also usually are vegetable organic dyes that are extracted by age old methods even today. These sarees have mainly geometrical or nature inspired motifs and are sustainable as they use natural organic dyes. India`s heritage handblock techniques are truly a combination of both sustainability and timeless art.

Handpainted: Madhubani and Kalamkari hand painted sarees are a riot of colours and creativity. These are free hand paintings and the saree becomes a canvas for the artisan to unleash his/ her creativity. Each piece is like a canvas, narrating beautiful tales, mythologies, and folklore. These sarees prove that truly a wearable art exists and that art and fashion could become one.

Hand Embroidered: Kantha from Bengal, Chikankari from Uttar Pradesh, Phulkari from Punjab, Aari, Sozni and Tilla from Kashmir and Kutchi from Gujarat are all beautiful work of art. Usually done by women in their free time. The fine and intricate stitches capture the essence of regional aesthetics, making each one of them festive and formal.

Sarees have been an eternal representation of India`s culture, heritage and diversity. Through the dedication and skilled hands of artisans and craftsmen, these pieces of fabric have made a mark in the world for their intricate beauties. Whether it is a big wedding or a small gathering, sarees will always be associated with grace and tradition for generations to come. By draping these beautiful pieces, we celebrate the stories and craftspeople behind India's weavers.